CBI arrests three in ₹1.8 crore digital arrest fraud; searches in Hyderabad and five states
Hyderabad: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on February 25, 2026 conducted searches across six states, including Hyderabad, and arrested three accused in a ₹1.86 crore “digital arrest” fraud case involving a senior citizen from Kottayam district in Kerala.
The agency said it carried out coordinated operations in Goa, Bengaluru (Karnataka), Palakkad (Kerala), Nagpur (Maharashtra), Hyderabad (Telangana) and Delhi as part of its probe into the cyber-fraud network.
Cryptocurrency trail and shell firms probed
According to the CBI, the accused arrested are Blessin Jacob Abraham, a mule account operator arrested from Goa; Mohammad Mushtaque, a shell company operator from Nagpur; and Mohammad Junaid, arrested from Bengaluru for allegedly procuring SIM cards fraudulently.
Investigators said Abraham allegedly played a key role in operating mule bank accounts and facilitating cryptocurrency transactions linked to the fraud. Several digital devices containing incriminating data were seized from his possession.
Mushtaque allegedly used a shell company account to receive the proceeds of crime. The agency recovered a substantial number of debit cards and digital devices from premises linked to him.
Junaid was allegedly involved in fraudulently procuring SIM cards by offering “5G SIM upgrades” to unsuspecting individuals. He allegedly misused their Know Your Customer (KYC) documents to activate SIM cards that were later used in cyber-fraud operations believed to originate from abroad.
Evidence seized during synchronised searches
The CBI said it targeted two critical components of the cyber-fraud ecosystem mule bank account networks and fraudulently procured SIM cards.
During the searches, officials seized digital devices, debit cards, bank account documents and other incriminating material. The seized evidence is under examination.
Through digital forensics and financial trail analysis, investigators uncovered what they described as a complex network spanning multiple states, with indications of international linkages.
The agency said the investigation is ongoing to identify additional domestic and international collaborators and to dismantle the broader infrastructure behind such “digital arrest” scams.
The CBI said it remains committed to pursuing organised cyber-criminal networks and safeguarding public trust in digital systems.
